Golf and a Wedding

This weekend was crazy busy.  I had to fly to Vegas on Friday for work.  I took an early flight and didn't get home until 7 pm.  This meant I didn't have time to get the cardigan or earrings I needed for the wedding we were attending Saturday.  That also meant that Saturday would be crazy.  And I have to thank my wonderful husband for having me "keep calm and carry on".

I found a super soft cardigan (although in some pictures I look like a Stepford Wife, oops), super cheap and awesome earrings and I got my hair done.  I love getting my hair done, especially for weddings.  I managed to get this all done plus breakfast before heading to the wedding.  Oh and I had to shop for some golf pants since it was calling for some colder weather.

We went to the Sunday Wedding and it was lots of fun.  We danced and I got my heels stuck in between the wood boards about 20 times ruining the heels of my shoes.  Nothing a little fixing can't help, I hope.  We ate great food, had some drinks, amazing s'mores and even saw a bear in the trees.  Oh and we witnessed a good friend drink water from the centerpieces because he was thirsty and didn't know where the water was.

Here is the husband and I at the wedding.  Isn't her decorations awesome?!

We had so much fun at their wedding and we are so happy for the beautiful couple.

Sunday we woke up to get ready for some golf.  As part of our wedding, they gifted us a free round of golf for four at the Genoa Lakes Golf Club (the Lakes Coure).  It was a beautiful and crisp Sunday morning.  The front nine I sucked so bad at golf.  I had a few good shots, but for the most part, couldn't get it together.  My hubby might have had to give me a pep talk (a small one).

By the time we got to hole 10, I got excited because this was the hole right in front of our wedding ceremony site.  I told myself I needed to play well for that hole and I did.  I hit so many great shots and was on target.  Then the next 8 holes I was again playing like a champ.  I don't think I have ever played that well (especially the back 9 holes).

It was an awesome day and a great way to cap off the weekend.  Now I have to tend to my cut up feet (not good to wear heels you have worn twice; once being where they cut your feet up before), my sore left ball of my foot (golf and dancing on the wood floor in heels and sans shoes) and my swollen ankles.  Man am I getting old.

I am a Married Woman!

I am back here to let everyone know...I am MARRIED!  And I couldn't be happier!  I had the most amazing, special, blessed, loving dreamy, beautiful, promising and magical day of my life.  I have been dreaming of this day my entire life and now it has come and gone.  I am constantly looking through my photos and videos that my friends and family have sent me reliving every moment I can.  I married my best friend and heard the most touching vows ever.  My husband surely does love me, and I am absolutely head over heels in love with this man.  Marrying Rory was my dream come true!

I am waiting on the professional photographs, but I do have plenty of non-pro pics that I want to start sharing, but that will take a bit, so I will leave you with these two gems.  The first one is my father walking me down the aisle.

And the second one is our sparkler exit.  This was so much fun as evidenced on my face! I am happily married woman!

Isn't my husband handsome?

Picking My Venue

So I moved pretty quickly when it came to starting my wedding planning.  I had been going to bridal faires and asking/helping my friend Stacey with her wedding plans, so I had already obtained a ton of information from the bridal faires.  I got ideas on photographers, djs, cake, flowers, etc.  I had already been secretly looking at wedding venues in hopes of getting engaged.

We decided that we wanted to get married in August, yes as in this year.  The first weekend in my opinion was out since I turn 30 on August 2nd and I didn't want my wedding the day after.  Not sure how I will take turning 30.  So we decided the 10th, 17th or 24th would work.  After thinking and checking around at venues, we picked the 17th.  Plus it seems to have some luck as my friend will be married for 11 years on that day and Rory's parents 41st anniversary is two days later.  So I will become the future Mrs. Butler on August 17, 2013.

So it came as no surprise right after we got engaged that we finalized the places I thought were ideal for our wedding.  We went to David Walley's Hot Springs.  Now I have always loved this place, but in recent years they have changed owners and it doesn't seem like it was kept up to the standards I had seen before.  The sidewalks outside the gazebo where the reception would be held were torn up. This would be an issue for myself who would be walking in heels, as well as my bridesmaids and any older guest, heck even younger guests.  I loved the gazebo, but it was really hot.  Ok, they can open all the windows, awesome, but only 75 or less guests could sit inside and the rest outside of the gazebo.  Ugh, I didn't like that at all.  The bar area and buffet area were great though.  And even taking chairs out and moving things around after dinner for the dance floor didn't bother me.  This venue has hotel rooms (time shares), but they were already pretty booked for our wedding weekend, and only the groom and I could stay there.  So basically after all we heard, we decided this wasn't our venue.  Though the views are breath taking.

I inquired about Thunder Canyon Golf Course as I love this golf course and the sites.  I have spent more time looking at venues then I should have.  But Thunder Canyon was gorgeous, had a great staff and we even have a friend who works there during the summers as a cart girl.  I inquired if they had any of our dates before we picked our date and they had August 24th.  Score, but another couple was looking that Wednesday and we weren't scheduled to look at it til Friday.  Long story short, they booked the 24th that Thursday.  We still looked at the venue thinking maybe we could pick a Friday instead.

Now the actual venue....Genoa Lakes Golf Club and Resort.  I love love love this venue, and so does the fiance.  Right at the entrance is a beautiful waterfall area to take pictures.  Breath taking and it is where my Aunt took her photos many years ago.  We decided we loved the Lakes Course side more.  We will be getting married outside looking at Jobe's Peak.

After the ceremony, we will have our reception inside the Supper Club.  So pretty.

 

Pictures don't even do it justice.  I can't wait to show you more as the flowers bloom and everything is planned.